Khairulddin Wahab’s (b. 1990, Singapore) paintings weave narratives drawn from anthropology, environmental history and post-colonialism in Singapore and Southeast Asia. Words in Amber is part of the series Island Story, a tale inspired by Singapore’s early history, myths and folklore. The series chronicles the journey of Toah, a sea nomad in 14th-century Singapore, alongside Chinese explorer, Zheng He, for whom he acts as convoy and guide to an unknown island in search for a mysterious figure who ruled the land. Along the way, they encounter characters who threaten to derail their quest. In this painting, the characters are able to sign their way to a semblance of an understanding despite speaking different languages. Amidst the call of cicadas and chirp of crickets, they share tales of life and adventure around the glowing embers of a bonfire.
Khairulddin graduated with a BA in Fine Arts from LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore in 2014 and has been featured in local and international exhibitions, including Biennale Jogja 2019, S.E.A. Focus and State of Motion 2018. He won the 2018 UOB Painting of The Year award and was the recipient of the 2014 Winston Oh Travel Research Award.